The world’s greatest sporting event is around the corner and the Empire State’s interest in the FIFA World Cup will be growing with watch parties, gatherings and of course, New York sportsbooks taking plenty of wagering action.
With the 2022 FIFA World Cup beginning on Nov. 20, EmpireStakes.com used Google Trends to look at the highest search volume of the term “World Cup” in the United States over a recent 30-day span. After gathering data on Nov. 2, we determined the Top 10 states with the most interest in the upcoming event.
For the 2022 tournament, hosted by Qatar, Brazil is the betting favorite at DraftKings New York sportsbook with +400 odds to win the title. Argentina is second at +500, followed by defending champion France at +700. The United States is +13000, tied for 16th in the 32-team field.
New York finished in the top five – in fact the state tied for third with three other states: Neighbor Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia. Each came in with a score of 62 in interest level (the score was achieved on a scale of 100 compared to other topics).
California topped the rankings with a score of 89, followed by the Empire State’s other neighbor - New Jersey – with a score of 76.
Massachusetts and Texas tied to round out the top three at 64.
The best NY sports betting promos are here at EmpireStakes.com no matter which flag you’re waving for the FIFA World Cup when the tournament kicks off.
2022 FIFA World Cup, States With Most Interest
World Cup No Stranger To New York, New Jersey
The New York metropolitan-area is no stranger to the world’s greatest tournament.
Just across the Hudson River from New York City, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium (home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets) is an 82,500-seat facility built in 2010. The stadium has hosted plenty of soccer friendlies and tournaments, including the 2016 Copa America final as Chile defeated Argentina on penalty kicks.
MetLife was also selected to be one of the 16 sites for the next World Cup in 2026.
The old Giants Stadium hosted seven games when the Unites States hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup, including Italy’s semifinal victory over Bulgaria. It also hosted four group stage matches of the 1999 Women’s World Cup and was the former home of the MetroStars in Major League Soccer.
New York’s Soccer Scene Vibrant
Speaking of MLS, the league’s corporate office is based in New York and two franchises are based in the area: The New York Red Bulls, the renamed MetroStars, play out of Harrison, New Jersey. The other team is the 2021 MLS Cup champion New York City Football Club (NYCFC), which became the league’s 20th franchise back in 2013. They play in New York, mostly at Yankee Stadium.
Also, who can forget the famous New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League (NASL), who played at Giants Stadium from 1977-1985 with the likes of soccer legends such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia.
U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter named his 26-man roster for the World Cup on Wednesday and it incudes New York State natives Joe Scally (born in Lake Grove), Tyler Adams (Wappingers Falls), Gio Reyna (Bedford) and Tim Weah (Rosedale). NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson and defender Aaron Long of the New York Red Bulls also made the cut.
New York sports betting apps will have odds for individual games, props and much more during FIFA World Cup 2022.
